Communications

30th Annual Christmas Demo --- December 14th @ 10AM.

On December 14th at 10am, join injured workers for the 30th anniversary of the Christmas Demonstration. The theme this year: Fighting back against more gifts to employers – nothing for injured and ill workers. This year, Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) is holding a community forum at 10am to hear from injured workers. It’s time for the provincial government to listen to injured workers. At 11am, we will hear from allies fighting for injured workers in the Labour movement, and those battling for migrant workers’ rights, occupational disease coverage, and more.

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Law Reform - Submissions re: Bill 27 Working for Workers Act, 2021

The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic (“the Clinic”) is a community legal aid clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario. Our mandate is to provide legal advice and representation to non-unionized low wage workers in Ontario who face health and safety problems at work. In response to the proposed Bill 27 - Working for Workers Act, 2021, the aim of our Clinic’s submissions is to speak to those specific parts of Bill 27 that we have expertise on, and, to wherever possible, not duplicate the helpful submissions of our colleagues in other legal clinics and in the injured workers community.

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AGM Notice --- October 27th, 2021 @ 6:00 pm

The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic will be hosting its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 at 6:00 pm. Click here to access the Zoom meeting information as well as the AGM Agenda. To access .PDF versions of the following documents, please click on the links below: 2021 WHSLC Annual Report 2021 Audited Financial Statements 2020 AGM Meeting Minutes

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Injured Workers' Day - June 1st, 2021.

On June 1st every year, injured workers, labour activists and their allies gather and pay respect to the hundreds of workers who have lost their lives or been seriously injured as a result of hazardous workplaces. Injured Workers’ Day is an opportunity to recognize the individuals who have suffered injuries and fatalities as a result of their workplace conditions, but it is also a time to rally and celebrate the gains made through united action, raise current concerns and remind governments workers rights cannot be ignored.

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April 28 @ 11:00 AM - National Day of Mourning.

Marked annually in Canada on April 28th, the National Day of Mourning is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job or due to a work-related tragedy. The observance of this day is meant to honour the lives of workers lost, but it is also a call to protect the living and make the world of work a safer place. We must continue to commit to safe and healthy conditions in the workplace to prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

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U of T Capstone Project: Airflow Prediction Simulation Software.

The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic continued its partnership with engineering students at the University of Toronto by participating in U of T Engineering Strategies & Practice Course, and the 2020-2021 Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Course. This year’s project looked to address one of the most pressing concerns faced by workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic - Indoor Air Quality. Undetected poor indoor air quality is a leading factor of respiratory health risks in workplaces in Ontario.

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OHCOW Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders.

At work, we can all suffer from occasional pain and discomfort, but in general work should not hurt. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common type of workplace injury in Ontario workplaces. “Musculoskeletal disorders” is an umbrella term for a number of injuries and disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone and nerves. Studies have shown that physical factors in the workplace - how work is organized and the specific tools used as part of that work - can increase a person’s chance of developing a musculoskeletal disorder.

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Mental Health Resources and Supports

Mental Health Resources & Supports BounceBack Program (CMHA) - https://bouncebackontario.ca/ BounceBack is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

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AGM Notice --- September 23rd, 2020 @ 6:00 pm

The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic will be hosting its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 6:00 pm. Join us online via Zoom. Click here to access the Zoom meeting information as well as the AGM Agenda. To access .PDF versions of the following documents, please click on the links below: 2020 WHSLC Annual Report 2020 Audited Financial Statements 2019 AGM Meeting Minutes

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Uber v. Heller - A win for the “Gig” Economy Workers.

In a win for “gig” economy workers, the Supreme Court of Canada found in Uber Technologies Inc. v. Heller that the onerous mandatory arbitration clause in Uber’s service agreements is unconscionable. The Supreme Court of Canada released the decision Uber Technologies Inc. v. Heller. This decision was an appeal from the Ontario Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal found that Uber’s mandatory arbitration clause was “unconscionable”. The Clinic intervened to argue that mandatory arbitration clauses, like Uber’s, undermine the minimum protections for workers in Ontario.

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